Member Profiles
JOHN McARTHUR, PhD
Since age 30 ( I am now 67) I have had 5 heart
attacks, 13by-passes from 3 open heart operations and 26 shocks from an
implantable defibrillator. I know how hard it is to get a job, let alone a
senior position when it is learnt that the applicant has a somewhat checkered
cardiac history.
I determined after the first lot of heart surgery (which only came about because
I changed doctors) that I would not let the disease get to me. I pushed hard -
probably too hard - and the tensions of competitive jobs soon brought upon the
need for more surgery - and so it went on. My overwhelming concern after the
first lot of surgery was the loss of short term memory. I decided that I ws no
going to be a vegetable and went back to University and gained a Master's
degree. After the second I did it again - another research master's degree and
finally after the last lot of surgery - a PhD. By then the heart was in a lot of
trouble and severe cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. Sure enough I had vt
necessitating the defibrillator.
What I was not prepared for was the first wallop when the machine activated as
it sensed fibrillation. After that the wallops came fairly frequently as
specialists juggled with one drug after another to stabilise the heart as much
as possible. My work career was cut short with the usual financial distress.
So I thought there are two ways to handle this problem. First, recognise that in
the end it will win and face that fact. Second, challenge it every day. So I try
hard to live a life that gives me something every day. I will not kid anyone
that when I get isolated ectopics,that an alarm bell does not ring in the
recesses of my mind. It does and often the darned things hurt too. But I find
that by talking to myself, by urging myself to cope, by practising meditation,
deep breathing and listening in a relaxed state (as far as possible) to music I
can overcome the episodes.
I cannot stress enough that what I experience is daily - but I am not going to
lie down and feel sorry for myself.
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